I don't think the Yankees can be beat.

[MaineDolFan]

Penny worked out in a way.  He was healthy and took the ball every 5 days for 24 starts.  7-8 record.  Not great but not awful.

That said, Boston's FA signings haven't worked out well at all.  Their farm system works like magic.  Dustin.  Youkilis.  Papelbon.  Lester.  Ellsbury.  Trades they seem to do okay.  V-Mart, Beckett.  But FA signings?  Drew.  Lugo.  Renteria. 

It's a good thing that Boston knows how to grow their own because they don't do well with a shopping cart.

[Sunstroke]

Trades they seem to do okay.  V-Mart, Beckett. 

I cannot tell you how glad I am that Florida made the deal with Boston to give up Beckett instead of Texas, which was the other primary trade rumor going on for Beckett at the time. None of the players we would have gotten from Texas would have been anywhere close to the type of impact we've gotten from Hanley Ramirez (who's going to win his first battling crown this season). I think the best prospect the Rangers were offering back then was John Danks (now with ChiSox).

[EDGECRUSHER]

Up until his last 5 starts, Penny was a fine #5 starter. He was cheap, worked 5-6 innings almost every time and had an ERA of about 4.70 in the AL East. Just look to the Yankees and see their #5 starter combo of Mitre and Gaudin for comparison.

He was just so awful his last few starts it raised his ERA to almost 6. I think he should do fine in the NL.

[Denver_Bronco]

Gaudin and Mitre are electric! What do you mean? 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Theo's flaw has always been free agent signings, he is just a sucker for big names. I would say it's actually hindering the club as every time a FA signing fails, they just plug in a minor leaguer and do better.

[DZA]

They will blow it in the ALDS, or ALCS.   

[MaineDolFan]

I cannot tell you how glad I am that Florida made the deal with Boston to give up Beckett instead of Texas, which was the other primary trade rumor going on for Beckett at the time. None of the players we would have gotten from Texas would have been anywhere close to the type of impact we've gotten from Hanley Ramirez (who's going to win his first battling crown this season). I think the best prospect the Rangers were offering back then was John Danks (now with ChiSox).

A rare trade that worked out 100% for everyone.  Boston got a legit ace and a 3B that has hit over .300 with at least 25/90 since and Florida got the best hitting short stop in the history of the universe.

[EDGECRUSHER]

And Lowell was the throw in that Boston HAD to take if they wanted Beckett. Yeah, nice consolation prize there.

[stinkfish]

With the team that the Yankees have assembled, they HAVE to win it all.

[EDGECRUSHER]

They don't have to as there really isn't any super teams anymore. IMO, the last World Series winner to just dominate everyone was the 1999 Yankees. There is a lot of parity in baseball now, anyone can win it. The Yankees need Burnett to wake up and their 4th starter Joba Chamberlain has been awful the past 6 starts. So, they have holes.

That being said, I would call them the favorites, but recent history suggest a humiliating ALDS defeat. Especially if they face the Angels, then it's over.